Fuel tank closure means



July 5, 1949. MARTIN 2,475,397

FUEL TANK CLOSURE MEANS Filed Aug. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l figj. fg. 3.

July 5, 1949. 5. w. MARTIN FUEL TANK CLOSURE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1945 8 rfl a w s 2 my" m 4 z M v m e a 5 M 0 5 2 r 2 w m 3 x w I Mug 6 B. 7 3 x k ,6 m X 3 0 V 5 m J 0 5 1:11: W Mw My 5 n 7 M J a\ M Va To W m 7 0 w w Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES- PAT OFICE FUEL TANKCLOSWRE MEANS.

George W. Martin, Eau' Claire, Wis.

Application-August 10, 1945,.Serial. No. 61:0,0335

10 Glaims. 1.

This inventiorrrelates to outboardmotorunits, and has to do particularly with a fuel tank. of such a unit and with closure means for-the flller opening of the tank.

Outboardmotor units as commonly constructed have. a power head comprisingthe engine. and its appurtenances enclosed within ahousing, thelatter including a fuel? tank extending about the upper portion of thehousing thereinand having: at a. high point a filler. opening for introduction of fuel, usually gasoline: and. oil, the. latter for lubricating purposes, into the tank. The filler opening is closed by a screw plug having a. flangedhead under which: is placed a sealing gasket, soas to assure a fluid tight. closure. when the plug is screwed tightly into the filler opening. The plug is provided. with an air vent. passage con.- trolled by a spring loaded member, in. the form of a second plug screwing into the. first-plug and also having a flangedhead with a gasket disposed. therebeneath. When. the. second plug is screwed into position opening the air vent passage, i t isheld in thatposition by itsassociated spring. In order to prevent spillage of fuel when. transporting the unit, the second. plug is turned in tight so as to close the. air vent passage and also provide a fluid tight seal between the. heads of. the two plugs. The known closure means is open to various objections. The sealing gaskets rapidly wear in usev and become ineffectivev for maintaining a fluid tight seal, so that in transporting the unit, during which it is usually placed on. its side. in more or less horizontal position, objectionable leakage of fuel is aptto occur. Also, the entrance opening of the air vent. passage is exposed. above the housing of the power head and is subject to clogging by entry of dirt, dust and other foreign materials, which may result in stoppage of the motor, Further, the removal and replacement of the closure means, for introducing fuel into the. I

tank, requires an appreciable amount of time which in emergencies. is objectionable. It is the usual practice, in the known motor units referred to. to attach the closure plug to the housing by a chain or equivalent flexible member to prevent. loss of the plug. The presence of an anchor. chain or the. like interferes, with manipulation of the closure plug. for insertion. or removal thereofi. andv there is the. further risk that-the chain may become" detached. either from the plugyor from. the.

2; housing. and that. the closure plug may be lost overboard.

My inventionzisdirectedl to the. provision of fuel tank' closure. means; for outboard motor units, which avoids the above noted objections to the known type of. closure: means above referred to. More specifically, I provide. tank closure means inwhich wear. of the: parts due to; rubbing contact therebetween' underpressure is avoided and whichamay be opened and; closed with a minimum of delay-,such closure. meanabeingassociated with the tank andcwiththe. housing cover in a novel manner so as toprQv-idea neat and streamlined effect and. avoid: all objectionable projections beyond the'hcusing, cover. In the; closure means of my invention, the means for closing the filler opening; of the tank is carried by a flller cover hinged to the; powerhead-- housing cover and blending intothe. latter, the: closure means being thus.- located. at the; high. point of the fuel tank whereby.- the entire capacity of the tank may be uilized, thisfi-ller means also including air vent meansoperableexteriorly' of the filler cover when the. latter is in its closed; position. the entrance.

to, the air vent means being locatedinteriorly of the. power: head. housing, and cover so as to be guarded thereby against clogging with dirt and other foreign. materials. The closure means, including. the associated... air vent means, is permanently attached to-theifiller cover,,which is hinged to the. cover of. the power headhousing; in such manner as efiectively to eliminate possibility of accidental detachment. from the main cover, the latter being fixed to thezhousing, whereby possibility 0t loss of. the: closure meansi overboard is eliminated. I also proride, in association with the closure means, means for yieldingly urging the filler'coverin opening directionand provide quick operating means for releasably holding the. filler cover in its closed: position; whereby upon release of. the filler coverit' is moved in opening direction to a sufficientextent to be; readily rasped and: moved-into its full. open position, in which the.- closure: means is; disposed clear of the filler opening which. is; then readily accessible for introduction' of. fuel into the. tank. Further objects and. advantages; of. my invention will appear from thedetaildescription;

In therdrawi-ngsl 1 Figure l; is mplantview; QQ'QYQQWBI: head. of; an

3 outboard motor unit comprising a fuel tank and closure means therefor embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the power head cover and associated parts with the filler cover in its fully opened position, the portions of the power head extending outward beyond the cover therefor being omitted for clearness of illustration;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 6-5 of Figure l, certain parts. being shown in elevation and certain otherparts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the order of Figure 4 but omitting the fuel tank and with the filler closure plug mainly broken away, showing a modified form of closure means;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing a second modified form of closure means; and

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 7 but showing a third modified form of closure means.

In Figure 1 I have shown more or less semidiagrammatically a power head It ofan outboard motor unit. This power head it comprises a housing I! enclosing the motor and its appurtenances (not shown), is known in the art. A main cover I2, approximately ovoidal in plan, is secured to housing II, conveniently by screws, in overlying relation to fiy-wheel I3 of the motor unit. The upper portion of housing H is constructed to provide a fuel tank I 4 disposed above and generally xtending about the motor and its appurtenances enclosed within the housing II. Tank I4 is provided, at the high point thereof, with a circular filler opening defined by a downwardly and inwardly curved flange is integral with top Wall I6 of the tank. The main cover I2 is provided with an opening I7, shown as of rectangular shape, though it may be of any other suitable shape, overlying the filler opening I8 defined by flange I 5. The main cover i2 is further provided with a rectangular recess is in its upper face'communicating at its outer end with opening I1, and with a slot extending from the outer end of opening I? through peripheral flange 2| of cover I2, which flange 2i seats on the upper face of housing II. Flange 2! is provided, at each end of slot 20, with a groove 22 extending from the lower face of flange ii. The grooves 22 receive the end portions of a pintle pin 23 passing through a hinge eye 24 fixed to, conveniently integral with, a filler cover 25 conforming to opening I! of main cover I2. it will be noted that the side and end surfaces of opening I! are beveled or inclined downward and inward of cover I2, and the side and end surfaces of filler cover 25 are also beveled correspondingly to the surfaces of opening I! so that cover 25, when closed, seats snugly within the opening I1.

The filler cover 25 is provided, at the midportion of its inner end (when closed), with a notch or recess 26 in its upper face. Notch 25 is adapted for reception of the outer portion of a latch button 21 slidable in recess I9 and provided with a downwardly extending shank 2% (Figure 4) operating in a slot 29 in main cover I2. A retainer member or washer 30 is secured on the lower end of shank 28 by a screw 3I, and restrains button 21 against upward movement relative to cover- I?" while 'permitting'sliding movement of the button toward and away from opening Il. When filler cover 25 is in its closed position, button 21 engages in notch 28, when moved to its outer or rearward position shown in Figure 4, effective for releasably securing filler cover 25 closed. Conveniently, button 27 is recessed at its upper face and there provided with a transverse rib 33 to facilitate manipulation thereof.

Filler cover 25 is provided at its under face with an integral downwardly extending tubular boss 35 interiorly threaded at its lower portion for reception of a thimble 36, of step formation, screwing into boss 35. This thimble 36 is provided with astep bore 31 opening through its ends, and with a valve seat 38 at the upper end of bore 37, for reception of a ball valve 39 urged upward by a compression spring 40 confined between valve 39 and the lower end of the upper portion of bore 3'1, which is of increased diameter. A vent valve control screw 32, provided at its upper end with an enlarged knurled head, threads into boss 35 from the upper end thereof, this screw having at its lower end a reduced neck 53 carrying at its lower end a flat head or disk M disposed to contact valve 39, the upward travel of screw 42 being limited by a cross pin 65 secured in boss 35 and extending there across above disk 44. The boss 35 is provided with an air inlet duct 46 openin into the interior thereof between thimble 35 and disk tiso that, when valve 39 is raised from its seat 38, air may enter tank I2 through duct 4'5 and bore or passage 31, as will be readily understood. By turning the screw 42 in, the ball valve 39 may be held tightly on its seat, effective for closing the upper end of bore 3?, as shown in Figure 4. As will readily be understood, the valve 39 and screw 42 and associated parts provide air vent means for venting air to the interior of tank I2 during the operation of the motor, while also providing means for effecting a fluid tight closure of the vent means when it is desired to transport the unit comprising the motor and tank I2 and associated parts.

Thimble 36 carries closure plug means colnprising a plug member 48 which is cupped and normally of approximately hemispherical shape, this member 48 having a thickened base portion 49 fitting about thimble 36, there being a spring spider 50 disposed at the upper face of body portion 49. The spider 5 and body portion 32 of plu member 48 are clamped between a washer 5| disposed about thimble 36 and contacting the lower end of boss 35, and a washer 52 disposed about thimble 36 and seating on a flange element 53 at the lower end of the thimble. The spring spider 50 is provided with a plurality of radial slots 54, defining between them resilient fingers 55 which bear against the inner face of plug member 48 and exert outward pressure radially thereon. In the closed position of the filler cover 25, plug member 48 fits tightly in filler opening it and over flange I5, in fluid tight sealing contact therewith, as shown in Figure l, plug member it being distorted to the form there shown by its passage downward through openin is in the closing of filler cover 25. In addition to exerting outward radial pressure against the surround ing wall of the plug member 58, the fingers 55 of spring spider 50 also exert upward pressure on the cover 25 tending to move the latter in opening direction. Under normal operating condi tions, the filler cover 25 is held in its closed position by'button 21;as above explained, and the agan sm screw '421is threadednoutwardrthrough:bossa35, preferably to the extent allowed by pin 45;.thus permitting opening of vaivefiia sand-2 establishing communication2betweenrthetrinterior;oiiffuel tank Hand: atmospherepthmugh duct'z l6.=and:bore or passage 31. .ltawillzber: notedi-zthatr.zthe;duct 46;.is disposed belowsmain: cover .12. andzthetfillertzcover 25, in .the LCIOSEdZLpOSRiOn J-Ofi the? latter, tandttis guarded therebyagainsticlog ingibytmud.nrcother iorei'gnxmaterial. Whensait isridesird toc obtain access :':to athe'iflller'iopening I 8,tforrintrodu'cing fuelxintoitank 2:. ori ior'samtzuther xpurpose'xthe button 27" is moved ifrom' hiits :po'siti on ishown" in Figure 4 to its positionrlshownirirfEigure"2,"thus releasing the fillerrcoverfiswtnch isthemmoved upward by the upward pressuresexertd thereon by closure plug mernber lmandssprm spider-x50, as 1 above explained? into iposition to "be -readily graspedso' "as to-bettum'dvabout"*pintle pin 2 3 into its' iullopen positioir 'showrrin FigureZ. The filler cover 2 5 *and'": the closurefplug' means carried therebyare*themdisposedblearof'filler'opening it, which is 'thusweriderddiilly accessible. In the closing'movementof-fillericover15 the plug member 48 entersfilleropening l8"with am'ore or less straight line movement thus .avoiding subjecting this'member totobje'ctionablerubbing contact andabrasi'on.

Filler cover 25 preferably .is'furtherprovided at its under side with a 111% 51 extending inward from boss 35, and withtwo. pairs .of lugs'58 disposed at opposite sidesofTboss 535. 'A substantially V-shapedIleaf spring LEI] is secured, by means of .a screwl6l,1to1lug .51, this spring being provided,- at the outer. endloi eachvarm thereof, with an arcuateifingerliTEZ. ".TheZ'fingerstZ are disposed to engage the. mid portionsof twoshear pins 53, disposed atoppdsitesides .of boss 35 and seating at theirends in v.thecorresponding lugs 58, appropriatelyformed.toifthatrend. The spring Bi! and the lugs 1.58 provide convenient means for mounting. spare. shear, pins -.under the filler cover 25, so i as .to I.be readily. accessible. if and as required.

The plug membertflimay, within vthe broader aspects 0f..my invention, .be formed of .anysuitable material, though preferably .itl-isa formed of an elastic rubberlike material,.. such as neoprene, or like material, whichavill. not be adversely afiected byrthe.,gas'oline..and..-oi1 or. like fuel within tank [2. Thegspring' tpider 50 .conveniently is .formed of, spring.brass, though any other suitablematerial maybe used.

In the" modificatiomshown in Figurefi; .thimble 35 isprovided 'with-lai-zborezor,passage 31 of substantially uniform -..d-iam-eter, the: .upper portion of whichprovides aseat forxa conical valve element .51 at .theslower end ofv reduced neck 66 of a' valve oontrolzsorewc6liztlrireaded through the upper-endof boss. 35. .-Screw .-65 .is .urged upward by a compression spring 68- disposed about valve element- Bland .confinedbetween the upper endxof qthimblea3fi vand; shoulder -ill at the lower end oixneck fifi. In :normal operation the screw 65 is turned.outwardzassufficient -disstance .to move the valve: element-:51 .from 'its seat permitting free:flow:.of-.=air;through borexor passage 3%, compression rgspring :68. serving zto guard against: closingwf "valve 61 "due to turning inof screw '65.:by vibration. The pin'tdiserves toprevent:..complete withdrawalzofrscrew e65scxas to guard against possible loss thereof. it \LiSL dBSiI'GdZJJlZO: .transportvsthesimitbaard rmotor unimthetscrewiiimisi u- "1.. 8

immatvaive'ri element :61. flrmiysin :1the-Luppereendrofspassage 31 thus. providingca fluid zizlghtasealxtherewith.

.The"modification.zshownuinrFigure 7 isasimi lar to that showniin"Figurez-fimvitlr theiexceptiomthat the 1 compression. spring. :68 rofrEigure fia-isromitted and lthe:stop pin 45 ofifFigure'rfi -is:replacedriby a screw l l 2 secured .inrboss': 35 zwitltitstinnerrend portion; overlying. shoulder '10 of :screwl65. i When it is desired to transport :thesnnit, the. screwafi5 is turned all of .the'awayziinnso'axthat:ithe valve element 6'! 'thereofiprovides aid'luid ti'ghtielosure .for the upper ":end :..of passageapri'rborel yl rof thimble i 36*. .In. normalz'operati'onzzdff the unit, screw 55 is turned tout ..2'siifiiciently':to wring shoulder l8 thereof L into 1 binding rcontacttwith screw H; effective for'restraimng'screw 55lagainst turning and thereb preventing..-zitsaiturning.ii-n duev to vibration, gpguarding :against "possible unintended. closing of :the 1 air :ventrmeans.

.In the modification shown:;iniliEigure .boss 35 of filler; cover -25 :receivestthimblefuses en'din upward into zbossl 35 .:andrdownwardatherebelow. The thimble i2:.iSLproVidedWitma Stepped bore or passage 31 and isiiformed at 'itsupper end-to provide a-xseat1f0r ,:ball valve $19 urged upward .by 'compressioniasprin'g 340 .confine'd between valve 39 and. the :wal1 at "the lower end of the upper portion".:of;bore337P;which 'is' of-"increased diameter. .Closure zplug meansfiicomprisingxa closure plug 13,:iormed1roffneoprene or other suitable material, is mounted Luponthe lower portion of-thimble l2. .:Ar..ba'cking "diskor washer Hi seats upon the upper iface of .:plug 73, in contact with a washer l5 disposed about thimble 72 and confined between disk lu -and a nut screwingion toxthimblelZ. JA WaShGY' TI is disposed about thelthimble 1:12 and confined between the lower face :thereofLand a"'nut 18 screwing on thelower .endof'zthe t'thimble. It

s will be seen that the closurerplugzmeans; comprising the plug member 1731:2116]. :disk .74. andassociated parts, is clampedron the thimble 12. between the nuts 16 :and-"i'8. -The' washer -'Z5."is provided with a plurality ofarcuate'fingers 80, which engage over the lower convolution-50f :-a coil compressionaspring 8! disposed :about, .boss 35 this springlbeingrsecuredeat its.;upper--end to filler cover 25 conveniently bymeansofe screwfiz threading. intoan extension of :boss 35v and passing .throughan eye83 at the upper end of spl'ingfSl. .iIt willlbeseenthat spring 8| provides a .connectionlbetweenlboss 35",..01' cover 25*, and the thirnble 12sothat thisithimble and the partsxcarrled .thereby:..move .with .the cover 25.

A screw .65, similar to, screw .42 .oi.IFigure-4, threads" through the upper and ref boss 35 for controlling the ball valve"39 as..an'diforthe,purposes above'notedwith respect to.Figure..-1-. .LIt will be noted that-the "outsidediameter. of the portion of thimble' 12 whichextends .into .bossBB is appreciably less' than the interior "diameter. or the boss, leaving 'anannular airpassage 85 therebetween. 'ltwill Talso "be."noted'that"fthe :cdil spring 8 i is spaced an appreciabledistance ffrom the boss 35 radialiy thereof. The passage "85 serves to vent air to the interior of" tank I 2;When the valve 3% is lifted "from its seat 'bycompression spring lt; and this '-valve"provi'des"' afiui'd tight seal with the upper end of'passage 3'l "of thimble 72 when it is; held seated 'bythe screw 65 The compressio1r'spring'"'-8 I.ris ofi'suclislength as to be l'plaee'd' under appreciable compression whenzthetifillerLc0ver3i25 :ii n iclosed sposition, efiectiveiiunholdiue' ithem'ug nizlii'fitheseafldnn the filler opening l8 so as to provide a fluid tight closure therewith. It will be seen that when the cover 25 is swung to open position, the plug member 13 is moved therewith into position clear of the filler opening l8, and in the closing movement of filler cover 215* the plug 13 is moved into position seating in flange i5 and closing the filler opening 58. The clearances between the boss 35* and spring 8! and thimble 12 are sufficient to accommodate any slight misalignment ofparts, the spring 8! permitting plug 3? to be accurately'aligned with and seat tightly in the filler opening l8. The under face of disk 44*, at the lower end of neck 53* of screw 65, is flat or planar and is effective for holding the valve 39 tightly seated, when the screw 65* is turned into position to close the air vent, even though the nipple i2 is not in coaxial alignment with the screw 85 due to seating of plug iii in filler opening l8. It will also be noted that the air inlet passage 85 opens into the space below the main cover l2 and the filler cover 25 so as to be guarded thereby against clogging by mud or other foreign materials As has been indicated above, and as will be understood by those familiar with outboard motor units and like mechanisms, changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope thereof, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forms only of my invention have been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In an outboard motor unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposin said opening, said filler cover having a downwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble at the lower end of said boss connected thereto for movement therewith and extending into the lower portion thereof, the interior of said boss communicating with atmosphere, closure means carried by said thimble disposed and adapted to close said filler opening when said filler cover is in closed position and to be moved into position clear of said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to open position, said thimble having a passage opening through its upper end and below said closure means, and valve means controlling the upper end of said passage operable exteriorly of said filler cover in the closed position or" the latter.

2. In an outboard motor unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposing said opening, said filler cover having a downwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble screwing into the lower end of said boss having a passage opening through its ends and a valve seat at its upper end, resilient means carried by said thimble disposed and adapted to close said filler opening and exert upward pressure on said filler cover when the latter is closed and to be moved into position clear of said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to open position, the interior of said boss communicating with atmosphere, means operable exteriorly of said filler cover in its closed position comprising a valve member cooperating with said valve seat for optionally opening and closing said. passage, and

means for releasably securing said filler cover closed.

3. In an outboard unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposing said opening, said filler cover having a downwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble screwing into the lower end of said boss having passage opening through its ends and a valve seat at its upper end, resilient means carried by said thimble disposed and adapted to close said filler opening and exert upward pressure on said filler cover when the latter is closed and to be moved into position clear of said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to open position, the interior of said boss communicating with atmosphere, a ball valve carried by said thimble yieldingly urged upward and cooperable with said seat for closing the upper end of said passage, a screw member threading through the upper end of said boss cooperable with said valve for closing it and ermitting opening thereof, and means for releasably securin said filler cover closed.

i. In an outboard motor unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposing said opening, said filler cover having a downwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble screwing into the lower end of said boss having a passage opening through its ends and a valve seat at its upper end, an upwardly opening cupped elastic closure plug and a resilient member therein exertin pressure thereon substantially radially outward thereof, said thimble having at its lower portion an outwardly extending clamping element, said plug and resilient member being clamped between said element and the lower end of said boss and disposed and adapted to close said filler opening and exert upward pressure on said filler cover when the latter is closed and to be moved into position clear of said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to open position, a ball valve carried by said thimble yieldingly urged upward and cooperable with said seat for closing the upper end of said passage, a screw member threading through the upper end of said boss cooperable with said valve for closing it and permitting openin thereof, said boss having an air duct opening thereinto between said thimble and screw member, and means for re leasably securing said filler cover closed.

5. In an outboard motor unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposing said opening, said filler cover having a downwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble screwing into the lower end of said boss extending therebelow and having an air passage opening through its ends, a closure member carried by said thimble between the lower end thereof and said boss disposed and adapted to close said filler opening when said filler cover is closed and to be moved into position clear of said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to open position, said boss having an air duct opening thereinto above said thimble, and valve means comprising a screw member threading through the upper end of said boss for optionally establishing and cutting off communication between said duct and passage.

6. In an outboard motor unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposing said opening, said filler cover having a downwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble screwing into the lower end of said boss extending therebelow and having an air passage opening through its ends, a closure member carried by said thimble between the lower end thereof and said boss disposed and adapted to close said filler opening when said filler cover is closed and to be moved into position clear of said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to open position, said boss having an air duct opening thereinto above said thimble, and a screw member threading through the upper end of said boss having at its lower end a valve element for closing and opening the upper end of said passage.

7. In an outboard motor unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposing said opening, said filler cover having a downwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble extending into the lower portion of said boss defining therewith an air inlet passage and extending downward therefrom, said thimble having an air passage opening through its ends, a coil spring disposed about said boss secured thereto at its upper end and to said thimble at its lower end, a closure plug carried by said thimble disposed and adapted to enter and close said filler opening when said filler cover is closed and to be moved into position clear of said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to open position, said spring being of a length to be placed under compression effective for holding said plug seated in said filler opening when said filler cover is closed, and means for releasably securing said filler cover closed.

8. In an outboard motor unit, a fuel tank having a filler opening in its top wall, a filler cover movable to a closed position overlying said filler opening and to an open position exposing said Opening, said filler cover having adownwardly extending tubular boss at its under side, a thimble extending into the lower portion of said boss in spaced relation thereto defining therewith an air inlet passage and extending downward therefrom, said thimble having an air passage opening through its ends, a coil spring disposed about said boss spaced therefrom and secured thereto at its upper end and to said thimble at its lower end, a closure plug carried by said thimble disposed and adapted to enter and close said filler opening when said filler cover is closed and to be moved to position clear of said filler opening in the movement or" said filler cover to open position, said spring being of a length to be placed under compression effective for holding said plug seated in said filler opening when said filler cover is closed, a ball valve of appreciably less diameter than the interior of said boss disposed therein seatable in the upper end of said passage for closing it and yieldingly urged upward, a screw 10 member threading through the upper end of said boss for holding said valve seated and permitting unseating thereof optionally, and means for securing said filler cover closed.

9. In an outboard motor unit, a housing comprising a fuel tank having a filler opening adjacent its top, a main cover secured on said housing, a filler cover on said main cover movable to a closed position and an open position respectively covering and exposing said opening, closure means carried by said filler cover for respectively closing and opening said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to and from closed position, said closure means comprising a closure member disposed and adapted to close said opening when said filler cover is moved to closed position and having an air vent passage opening into said tank when said closure memher is in position closing said filler opening, and. valve means carried by said filler cover comprising a member exposed at the outer face of said filler cover when it is closed operable for optionally closing and opening said passage.

10. In an outboard motor unit, a housing comprising a fuel tank having a filler opening adjacent its top, a main cover secured on said housing, a filler cover on said main cover movable to a closed position and an open position respectively covering and exposing said opening, closure means carried by said filler cover for respectively closing and opening said filler opening in the movement of said filler cover to and from closedv position, said closure means comprising a closure member disposed and adapted to close said opening when said filler cover is moved to closed position and having an air vent passage opening at its lower end into said tank and at its upper end exterior of said tank and beneath said filler cover, when the latter is in closed position, and valve means carried by said filler cover comprising a member exposed at the outer face of said filler cover when it is closed operable for optionally closing and opening said passage.

GEORGE W. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

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